OR-9. Studies Using Cobalt-57 Labeled Vitamin (B)12

This research, conducted in the early 1960s, was a collaborative effort between the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies; the Long Island Jewish Hospital, Jamaica, New York; South Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside, New York; and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The studies sought to determine why the serum and plasma levels of vitamin (B)12 were elevated in patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia.

In one study, three patients in remission were intravenously administered 0.13 microcurie of vitamin (B)12 labeled with Co-57. The procedure was repeated twice in the same patients, after administration of loading doses of vitamin (B)12.

In another study, 10 patients with various degrees of chronic myelocytic leukemia and 5 healthy individuals each received 3 or more intravenous injections of Co-57-labeled (B)12. This research was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute and by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. (Included in The DOE Roadmap of February 1995, and since revised)

References

Meyer L.M., L.M. Schiffer, D.A. White, and E.P. Cronkite. The Plasma Disappearance of Radioactive Cyanocobalamin: Effect of Prior Administration of Vitamin (B)12 Analogues. British Journal of Hematology. Vol. 11, No. 3, May 1965, pp. 370 379.

Monthly Highlight Report. Oak Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Medical Division, December 1962. NARA Atlanta Archives, RG 326-68A1096, OR Research Division, Organization and Management 5, Box 400, Folder Organization and Management-8, Reports ORINS.

From Human Radiation Experiments Associated with the U.S. Department of Energy and Its Predecessors Department of Energy

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